She cut her hair, packed a bar of shampoo, and started pedalling. Three years later, she's still going.

Stories from the EverCircle community

By Jessie Alice, EverCircle founder  ·  April 2026

I've been thinking about Laura a lot lately.

We worked together years ago on a retailer sustainability project, and when I reached out recently to see how she was doing, I discovered she was somewhere in West Africa, riding a bicycle from France to South Africa with her husband Ben. Surfboards in tow. Fundraising for ocean justice. Washing her hair with whatever she could find in local shops.

It felt like exactly the kind of story EverCircle exists to tell. Women who move through the world in ways that are brave and unconventional, who have found a different relationship with beauty, nature and their own bodies. So I asked Laura if she'd be willing to answer a few questions from the road. She said yes, sitting under an almond tree in Ghana, after riding 95 kilometres in the heat that morning.

Here's what she had to say.

First, a quick introduction in Laura's own words

My name is Laura and I am currently in Ghana as part of a bike-packing trip along the coast of West Africa with my husband Ben. We are travelling with our surfboards, well, Ben is pulling them on a trailer attached to the back of his bike. We started in France and followed the coast through Spain, Portugal, Morocco, the Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, with a goal to make it all the way to South Africa.

As part of our travels we are also raising awareness and funds for the Environmental Justice Foundation, who are helping to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing along the coast of West Africa.

Most days we ride anywhere between 50 and 120 kilometres, which can sometimes take 7 to 10 hours depending on the terrain, the temperature, the wind and how we are feeling. The everyday comforts we take for granted at home are often hard to come by: running water, electricity, a shower, a washing machine, a comfy bed and even fresh vegetables.

Right now I'm sitting in the shade of a huge almond tree, drying off after a quick dip in the ocean. My legs are tired after this morning's ride but I can feel the sand between my toes and the breeze on my face. I think that says everything.

On haircare on the road

What does your haircare routine look like while bike-packing and surfing?

You are spot on, Jessie. Sweat is especially a constant in this part of the world. Even if we start riding at 6am, by 7am we are soaked. Before we set off on this trip I cut my long hair off and settled on a length just below my chin, short enough to make washing and drying easier (I haven't used a hairdryer in a very long time) and long enough to tie back when I need to.

Generally I try to wash my hair every second day, even though I would love to wash it every day. Sometimes there isn't enough water so there might be three or four days between washes. I always try to rinse it after I've been in the ocean, as the salt water and sun really does damage hair over time.

Are there any hero products you swear by on the road?

I use very minimal products, and sparingly. Everything is dictated by size and weight of the packaging because every gram counts when you're travelling by bike. For my hair I was using the New Zealand brand Ethique soap-form shampoo and conditioner, which was great, but it ran out and I've had to buy small bottles of whatever I could find in a shop in Côte d'Ivoire.

I was also using the best hair ties, EverCircle Eco Ties, but unfortunately I lost my last one somewhere along the way and had to resort to a regular hair tie. I love them because they are durable for both surfing and riding, and they're made from bicycle inner tubes which feels very fitting for this trip. When I get home I will get some more EverCircle products to bring my hair back to life.

How do you keep your skin and hair feeling nourished when you're so far from a proper bathroom?

The most important thing is being able to rinse my hair after being in the ocean and wash my face as often as I can. Even at 46 I am getting spots because of the humidity, sweat and dirt when I ride, so keeping things clean is the priority. Nourishment is a bit of a luxury out here but honestly, your skin and hair adapt more than you'd expect.

Do you have a get-ready-in-five-minutes beauty hack for when you're living out of a backpack?

To be honest, not really. I just go completely natural with face cream, no makeup, and sometimes even mosquito spray makes an appearance because the chance of catching malaria is very real over here in West Africa.

On beauty and what it means out there

Has the adventure changed the way you think about beauty and self-care altogether?

Yes, for sure. Most days I don't even look in a mirror. The only one we have is the rear-view mirror on our bikes, which tells you very little. There is no pressure to look a certain way and it is so liberating. We wear the same clothes every day, obviously hand-washing them at night, and that is liberating too. It means we are not buying any new clothes for the entire trip, three years and counting.

Beauty really comes from all around us out here. The people with their big smiles and vibrant clothes, the feeling of solidarity, and of course nature. Inner beauty for me is when I feel confident, clear and connected with those around me. Self-care has become more about having a strong and healthy body, legs that can pedal us all the way from Europe to South Africa. We have to be aware of little niggles and injuries because things that seem small can become bigger issues when you're constantly exposed to environments that aren't exactly sterile.

Beauty really comes from all around us. The people with their big smiles and vibrant clothes, the feeling of solidarity and, of course, nature. Inner beauty for me is when I feel confident, clear and connected with those around me.

A note from Jessie

Reading Laura's answers reminded me why I started EverCircle in the first place. Not to make haircare feel like a chore or a ritual you have to perform perfectly, but to make it something lighter, simpler and kinder to the planet, so that when you do have access to a shower and a quiet moment, what you reach for actually means something.

Laura is proof that you don't need much. You need something that works, something that travels, and ideally something that doesn't add to the problem we're all trying to solve out there in the ocean.

If her story has moved you at all, please consider supporting her fundraiser for the Environmental Justice Foundation. The illegal fishing happening along the West African coastline is devastating for marine ecosystems and for the communities that depend on them. Every bit helps.

Follow along on Laura's journey at @lauramaywilson13

Images courtesy of Laura Wilson. Used with permission.